Romans 4

Romans 4:1

VVHat shall we say then] that is, Seeing then that all men are under condemnation and cannot be justified, but by faith without works, Romans 3:28. it followeth that Abraham himself, the father and chief of all those that enter into the covenant of grace, was not justified in any other manner. For although he did so much excell his progenie, yet he did not obtain life and glory by his own works, and that therefore his children canot claime more advantage then he.

as pertaining to the flesh] These words may be either referred to father, or to found: if to father, the meaning is, what did Abraham the father of us Jews according to the flesh finde? if they be referred to the later word found, the meaning is, what found he according to the flesh, that is, according to his works that are seen outwardly, as the verse following doth declare, and the word flesh is also so taken, Philippians 3:4.

found] Got, or obtained, as the word is taken, Hosea 12:8. and Matthew 11:29.

Romans 4:2

if Abraham] The reason stands thus, if Abraham had obtained any thing by way of justification by his own works, he should have had somewhat whereof to glory before God: but he hath nothing for the justification by faith which he obtained, vers. 7. doth strip men off all self-glory, Romans 3:27.

Romans 4:3

Abraham beleeved God] See Gen. 15 6. Galatians 3:6. James 2:23. that is, the promise of God to be his shield, and great reward, and to give him an heir of his own body, Gen. 15. 4, 5. and to multiply his seed, whereby not only his numerous posteritie is to be understood according to the flesh, but chiefly Christ his Sonne in whom all generations of the earth were to be blessed: see hereafter, Vers. 11, 12, 13. Galatians 3:16.

Romans 4:4

Now] Or, but.

to him that worketh] In opinion or hope to obtain or merit justification by his worke: or to him that worketh, that is, goeth about this way of works, and grounds himself thereon, and expects thereby the reward of life promised in the Law.

not reckoned of grace] Or, according to favour. In case he should have fulfilled the condition propounded of perfect obedience.

but of debt] Not indeed of an absolute merit, and as a naturall equivalence, which can never be between God and man, nor betwixt the work and the reward: because there is no proportion at all neither in the persons, nor in the actions: but only by vertue of that voluntary covenant of God, Do this and thou shalt live.

Romans 4:5

worketh not] That is, who not able to fulfill the condition of works, nor grounding himself thereon taketh the other way to be saved, viz. that of faith in the mercie of God towards sinners, whereby righteousnesse is bestowed upon him, and he clothed therewith, and by vertue of the same absolved from sinne and condemnation.

justifieth the ungodly] That maketh him who is wicked in himself just in Christ.

his faith] Not considered in it self as a work, but in its relation to Christ, and as an act of receiving him, and lively applying him to himself according as eating nourisheth, that is, the meat eaten, Esa. 55. 1. Romans 5:18-19. 1 Corinthians 1:3.

for] Or, to.

Romans 4:7

Saying, Blessed] See Psal. 31.1. In the beginning of the 32. Psalm: the argument which the Apostle draws from thence is undeniable. For he that is justified by his works, the same hath no need at all of any pardon of sinne to make him thereby blessed; and he who prayeth that God would not impute his sinne unto him, the same prayeth withall that God would impute unto him the righteousnesse of Christ, in regard these two cannot be separated in the judgement of God. See Romans 3:24 & Romans 5:19. Eph. 1. 7.

Romans 4:9

Cometh this blessednesse] This pronouncing or making blessed. Wherby it appears that the word to pronounce blessed, and to make blessed, is taken by David for one and the same thing: and the reason is, that the ground and foundation of our blessednesse lyeth in the forgivenesse of our sinnes, and the imputation of Christs righteousnesse.

sign of circumcision] Gr. Tec. he received circumcision the seale. That is, circumcision which is a sign as we say, the Sacrament of Baptisme, for, Baptisme which is a Sacrament.

a seal] Circumcision was called before a sign in respect of the outward ceremony, now S. Paul sheweth the force and substance of that sign, that is, to what end it is used; that is, not only to signifie, but also to seal the righteousnesse of faith: whereby we come to possesse Christ himself: for the holy Ghost worketh that inwardly and indeed, which the Sacrament being joyned with the word doth outwardly represent.

might be the father] God was pleased so to dispose both of the sign and the time with Abraham, to shew that the Gentiles as well as the Jews are to be reputed true children of Abraham, and comprised in the covenant made with him and his posteritie, so they followed his faith; whether they were circumcised, as during the time of the ceremoniall law they were to be according to Gods order, or not circumcised, to wit, after that God in stead of that had instituted another Sacrament, to wit, Baptisme.

Romans 4:13

heir of the world] That all the nations of the world should be his children. Or, by the world, may be understood the land of Canaan; a most renowned and fruitfull part of the world. Or, the words may carry this sense, that he should be restored as a sonne of God into the same condition and degree which Adam had before his fall, to be Lord over all the creatures, which was figured out to Abraham by the possession of the land of Canaan, promised to him and his posteritie, and is performed in part by the just and comfortable enjoying of the creature, which God doth give unto his children as members of Christ, but it shall be perfectly accomplished in the kingdome of heaven. See the 1 Cor. 3. 2, 23. 1 Timothy 4:3. Hebrews 1:2.

thorugh the law] For works that he had done. Or, upon the condition that he should fulfill the law.

Romans 4:14

of the law] If they be heires, which fulfill the law.

Romans 4:15

Because the law] It is cleare that these two means of getting righteousnesse cannot consist together; the law being altogether rigorous and requiring perfect obedience, or denouncing death and damnation to the transgressors: the promise on the other side is of grace and reconciliation, and acceptation of the will for the deed.

worketh wrath] Or, worketh out. That is, manifesteth the wrath of God against the transgression thereof, and bindeth over the sinner thereunto, and aggravateth sinnes through the perversenesse of mans nature, Romans 7:8.

for where no law is, there is no transgression] Gr. Tec. but if there be no law. as Chap. 5. 13. 1 John 3:4.

Romans 4:16

Therefore it is of faith] Since the first way of obtaining life by the law which God had proposed unto man, was by sinne not only made unprofitable, but hurtfull and pernicious, there must of necessitie recourse be had unto the other which is by faith; faith being the only vertue that can in this case stand with the free grace of God, in a much as faith doth not work by procuring and meriting, but meerely by receiving what is given and bestowed upon, John 1:12.

be sure] Or, firm. That is, grounded upon God and his immutable good pleasure, and on the perfect and everlasting righteousnesse of Christ, and not upon the variable and inconstant obedience of man, Ezekiel 16:61. Romans 9:11. & Romans 11:19.

all the seed] Or, the whole seed.

Romans 4:17

I have made thee a father] See Genesis 17:5. Not of those only that should issue from him according to the flesh, but also of those among all nations that by faith should be adopted and received into his spirituall family.

before him] Or, like unto him. That is, God, that is by a spiriturall kindred, which hath place before God, and maketh us acceptable to him, or according to a spirituall and divine fatherhood gained by faith, according to which God is able to make a child of Abraham when he pleaseth, Matthew 3:9. even as of nothing he hath created all things and raiseth the dead: and after this fatherhood, he judgeth which are the true children of Abraham, that he approveth, whereas according to mans judgement none but the Jews could be counted such. If we reade like unto him, then the meaning may be this, that as God is a Father, not only in regard of those which are already, but even of all such whom he shall create anew b yhis omnipotent word; so Abraham in some conformitie thereunto hath been the adopting father of the Gentiles, though as yet destitute of all spirituall life and faculties, requisite for the being of such his children, Ephesians 2:12. Lastly, if we reade the words (with some) before that he beleeved, which the Greeke will hardly brooke, then the meaning is, before the time that he beleeved, God made him, that is, designed him to be the father of many nations: and this the Apostle addeth, that Gods promise dependeth not upon Abrahams beliefe; as likewise, Romans 9. he proveth that the election of God depended not upon foreseen works, because before the children were born or had done good or evill, it was said, The elder shall serve the younger.

calleth those things] maketh them to be by his word, and as it were calleth them to come forth and appear for that end to which he hat ordained them, and as he did in the creation of all things, saying, Let there be light, &c. and in the miraculous raising from the dead; Damsell I say unto thee, arise; and, Lazarus come forth, &c.

Romans 4:18

against hope] Or, besides. Besides or above all causes, arguments and appearances of naturall hope, such as carnall reason and understanding could afford.

in hope] Grounded upon the truth and power of God.

So shall thy seed be] See Genesis 15:5.

Romans 4:19

he considered not] Not as thereby to be weakened in his confidence, for otherwayes he had indeed objected his and Sarahs age, Genesis 17:17. but howsoever he rested not upon the order of nature, according to which all hope of issue was taken from him, for true faith doth overcome all apprehensions of mans own disabilitie by a lively perswasion of the truth of Gods promises.

now dead] Voyd of strength and unmeet to get children; howsoever God afterward renewed strength and vigour in that kinde, Psalms 103:5. See Genesis 25:2-3.

Romans 4:20

staggered not] Or, doubted not of.

giving glory] Acknowledged and praised God as most gracious and true, and of infinite power, to overcome all naturall difficulties, and performe what he had promised, though never so contrary to the course of nature.

Romans 4:21

what he had promised] Or, what was promised.

Romans 4:22

for] Or, to.

Romans 4:24

if we beleeve] Or, beleeving.

Romans 4:25

our offences] Gr. fallings, or faults. To pay the ransome for our sinnes.

our justification] God having declared by raising him from the dead, that he hath accepted of the death of his Sonne, as of a sufficient ransome for our sinnes: for if Christ had remained still under the power of death, his satisfaction could not have been perfect, neither could he have applyed the vertue thereof to us. We may also conceive Christs resurrection to be our justification after this manner. Christ was our true pledge, he therefore after he had satisfied for us by his death, returning unto life gives us a cleare evidence, and affords us a sure argument that God was fully reconciled and life purchased for us. Which assurance we could not have had, if Christ our pledge had still remained under the power of deeath, for as much as his continuance in his payment would ever have argued the imperfection of it. See 1 Corinthians 15:17.